If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you should take the following steps:

Go to a safe place as soon as possible.

Call the police:

On Campus – Call ext. 50911 or (336) 819-2046.

Off Campus – Call 911.

Either campus police or a local police agency will respond to an alleged assault call.

Stay on the phone with the dispatcher as long as you are needed.

Call someone you trust, such as a friend or relative, to help and support you.

The preservation of physical evidence may be critical for successful prosecution of the offender.

Do not change your clothes. If you do, put the clothing you were wearing in separate paper bags (not plastic) and take them to the hospital. This clothing may be used as evidence for prosecution. If you wear the clothes to the hospital, bring a change of clothes with you. Most physical evidence cannot be recovered after seventy-two hours.

Do not clean your body or your clothes. Preserve all physical evidence. Do not wash, bathe, douche, comb your hair, or use the toilet if you can help it. Washing might be the first thing you want to do, but don’t. You literally might be washing away valuable evidence. Wait until after you have a medical examination.

Do not alter or disturb the crime scene. Leave tables, fixtures, grass, etc., as they were after the assault so that investigators may view the area. Ideally, evidence should be collected within twenty-four hours of the assault.

Campus Police will need your assistance to make a crime report. You may ask for a victim advocate to be present when making a report. GTCC has a trained group of staff members who will support and assist you in accessing medical and counseling services and in reporting the incident to the appropriate local law enforcement authorities.

Seek Medical Attention

If you have experienced physical or sexual violence, go to a hospital for evidence collection, treatment of injuries, and medication for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention. Forensic exams can be obtained for up to five days after an assault.

Students, faculty, and staff may report incidents to any trusted faculty or staff member. Managers, supervisors, faculty, staff, and other agents of the college are required to respond promptly and appropriately to allegations of sexual harassment and violence that are brought to their attention.